St. Viator celebrates homecoming

Homecoming festivities during the 50th year of Saint Viator High School included a visit by Jarrett Payton, one of the school’s best known alumni.

Senior Katelyn Hammarlund, an all-area soccer standout who is on student council and works in peer mediation, and Tom Aichele, offensive lineman, varsity volleyball player and trombonist in the jazz and symphonic bands, were crowned Friday as king and queen. Both live in Arlington Heights.

Jarrett Payton, a 1999 graduate of Saint Viator, told the students that his experience at Saint Viator changed his life.

“While a lot has changed since I walked the halls, one thing hasn’t: tradition,” Payton stated. “I grew up here. I became the person I am because of this school, the teachers, the athletics. I remember the first time I walked through the doors as a freshman. I had no clue. But when I left here as a senior, I had a vision.”

Coronation festivities capped a week of Sweet Home Chicago-themed activities, from skyline decorations to Chicago trivia contests.

After the coronation, the homecoming court was to be introduced at halftime of the Lions’ game against Benet Academy in Lisle.

The court includes: senior court members Billy Cavanagh of Arlington Heights and Olivia Nuelle of Mount Prospect; juniors David Vitale of Elk Grove Village and Emma Hogaboom of Arlington Heights; sophomores Matthew Yoder of Buffalo Grove and Molly Ziegler of Hoffman Estates; and freshmen Michael Scully of Arlington Heights and Isabelle Rooney of South Barrington.